Antifriction-bearing.



R. LINN.

ANTIFRIGTION BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED 11PR.13,1908.

' Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

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AROBER'I LINN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ANTIFRICTION-BEARING.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT LINN, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Chilike and revolving members suchas pulleys or Wheels. Itsobjects are to provide a simple and eflicient bearing in which friction is reducedvto a minimum and in which there isvno sliding movement, practically all of the moving parts tending to roll upon or with the adjacent members. I attain these objects, and such other objects as will appear hereinafter, by means of the devices shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l shows a side elevation of one form of my device; Fig. 2 is a detail showing one part of the ball-retaining ring in cross-section; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the other part of the ball-retaining ring; Fig. 4 is a side view of the ball-spacing ring; Fig. 5 is a sectional View through the bearing, thev shaft being shown in elevation; Fig. 6 is an end view of the bearing, with the cap removed; and Fig. 7 is a detail showing a modified form of the ball-spacing ring which is also adapted to support the rollersfwhen the shaft is removed.

As shown in these drawings, 7 represents a shaft or axle about which is arranged a plurality of rollers 8 which engage therewith and are adapted to take up the principal wear and strain of the bearing. These rollers are grooved at the ends as indicated at 9 and` are held at fixed distances apart by means of balls 10 which engage with the grooved portions of said rollers. The rollers are arranged sufficiently close together and the balls are of such size that the centers of said balls are beyond the centers of said rollers and the balls extend for some distance beyond said rollers at the point of contact. These balls are held in position by means of a retaining ring whichis grooved Specification of Letters Patent.

thereof and the annulus 14:. is Vprovided with a catch or tongue 18 for engagement with .any one of these' notches. It will be readily seen that when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 5, the position of the balls Amay be readily adjusted by tighteningor loosening the annulus 14, and when the retaining ring has been properly adjusted the parts are held in position by means of the catch 1'8 engaging with one of the notches 17. While, in some instances, this retaining ring may be sufficient to keep the balls and rollers in proper' position, I also have a spacing or equalizing ring 19 having holes 20 therein to receive the balls 10.. This is a light ring which engages with about the centers of the balls and prevents circumferential displacen'ient thereof while at the same time affording little opportunity for any friction with said balls. As this ring holds the balls l Patented Jan. t2, n.915. l Application led April 13, 1908. Seria'l No. 426,844.

in adjusted position, the rollers will always which the bearing is to be used. As shown in the drawings, it consists of a cylindrical portion which engages with said rollers and is enlarged at the ends to cover and inclose the balls and rings above described. These enlarged ends are threaded to receive caps or covers 22 which entirely close the ends of the bearings and protect the rollers and spacing devices from dust and dirt. In order to prevent friction between the 'ends of the box 21 and the retaining rings,

.l'have provided a series of balls 23 which are placed in shallow holes 24 in the annulus 11 and are held in position by slightly upsetting the metal around the outer edge of the holes as indicated at 25. These balls project beyond the face of the annulus 11 and engage with the shoulders 26 on the hub or box 21.

The operation of my improved bearing,

which may be applied to various journals,

ring is in the nature'of a floating ring, it

Will move around with said balls and will adjust itself to the speed of said balls and thereby lessen the friction at this point. The

spacing or equalizing ring in the meantime-A assists in maintaining .the accurate relative positions of the parts. The threaded annuli, with the locking device therefor, provides a delicate and accurate means for adjustment when the parts are to be assembled or to take up any Wear occasioned by tlie'o'pera-l tion of the device.

In some instances it is desirable to provide means for maintaining vthe rollers in their relative operative positions when theyrare removed from the shaft or axle, as for instance, when a completed bearing is to be shippedfor placing on a standard size of shaft. For this purpose, I provide the rollers with small pins or trunnions 28, as indicated in Fig. 7, and arrange a disk or ring 26 with holes 27 therein for receiving said trunnions. rIhis dislr is preferably made integral with the ring 19 heretofore described and it will be noted that the holes 27 are suiliciently large so that in normal operation thetrunnions Will not engage with the disk; but 'when the central shaft has been removed., the trunnions will then engage with the disk and thereby prevent the rollers from being displaced.

Various changes iii the details of construction Will readily suggest themselves as coining Within the scope of this invention when it is desired to utilize the same for various purposes, and I do not Wish to be limited to the exact construction or details herein set ,forth g but `said balls, a boX engaging with said rollers magret and having shoulders at its ends, and balls in said rings adapted to engage with said shoulders to prevent lateral motion 2. As a new article of manufacture, a bearing comprising a journal, grooved rollers adapted to engage with said journal, balls engaging witli'the grooved portions of said rollers to hold them apart, means for holding said balls in contact with the rollers, and a .ring having holesv therethrough for engagement with the balls, the arrangement being suoli that the ring tends to keep said balls in normal, spaced apart position around the journal.

.3. In a bearing, the combination of .a shaft, grooved rollers engaging With said shaft, balls engaging with the grooved portions of said rollers for holding said rollers apart, an adjustable retaining ring for said balls, and a spacing ring having holes therethrough of greater diameter than the balls vfor engagement with said balls. I

4. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a shaft, rollers having grooves in the ends thereof, adapted to engage With said shaft, rotatable members engaging with said rollers for-holding the same apart, spacing rings engaging with said rotatable members, retaining rings engaging with said rotatable members, a box or hub engaging with said rollers and having shoulders at the ends thereof, and balls in said retaining rings for engagement With said shoulders.

5. In a device ofthe character set forth, the combination of a shaft, rollers having grooves at the ends thereof and engaging with said shaft, balls engaging with the grooved ends of said rollers, spacing rings engaging with said balls, an adjustable ring engaging with said balls, means for holding the parts of said ring in adjusted position` said ring being free to move with said balls, a box engaging with said rollers and having shoulders thereon, balls in said adjustable rings engaging with said shoulders, and caps engaging' with the said box for closing' thc ends of the bearing.

6. In a roller hearing, the combinationof a plurality of grooved rollers, having pins.

atlthe ends thereof, balls adapted to engage with said grooves to hold said rollers at predetermined distances apart, and a spacing ring for said balls, having a flange thereon provided With holes for receiving said pins.

7. In an antifriction bearing, the combination of a shaftor axle,y grooved rollers engaging with said shaft, meansfor holding said rollers apart, and a retaining disk haring enlarged holes for receiving trimnioiis on the ends of said rollers, the arrangement being such. that the trunnions will ordinarily be from said disk but Meegos g.

will engage with the same to hold the rollers flange having holes to receive said truninrelative positions when the shaft'is renions for the purpose of supporting said 1o 'move -1 b h b 'rollers when the bearing shaft is absent.

8. n a rol er earing, t e com ination Y of grooved rollers having' trunnions at the RQBERT LINN' ends thereof, balls for holding said rollers l/Vitnesses: apart, and a ring having holes to receive WM. E.'HAMILTON,

f said balls, said ring being provided with a A. W. FENSTEMAKER. 

